Adjustable reading stand



Aug. 30, 1949. FULLER 2,480,233

ADJUSTABLE READING STAND Filed May 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2K N zq Q f 210/ \K 20 Y U v i 2 7 -38 33 2, v )\4'5 /8 z 47 50 I6 [(14 lee Fake/L.

Aug. 30, 1949. FULLER 2,480,233

ADJUSTABLE READING STAND Filed May 6, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ldla A ee I a/lea,

Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE READING STAND Lila Lee Fuller, Houston, Tex.

Application May 6, 1946, Serial No. 667,658

Claims. 1

This invention relates to an adjustable reading stand.

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable reading stand including a holder for a book, magazine, or other reading matter and which may be adjusted vertically and laterally, as well as about a horizontal axis so that the stand can be adjusted to suit the convenience of the reader.

The stand has been designed particularly for the convenience of patients, when in a reclining position and specially for those who cannot conveniently hold the book or other reading matter and turn the leaves as reading progresses.

While the reading stand herein described has been primarily designed for disabled patients it is capable of general use for the convenience of readers either in reclining or sitting-up position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable reading stand which may be easily folded into a very compact position for storage or transportation.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, arrangement of parts and use, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the stand.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side, elevational view.

Figure 5 is a plan view partly in section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate the same parts in each of the figures. the numeral l designates the supporting base which is, preferably, formed of tubular metal bent into a U-shape, as more clearly shown in Figure 5, and which is provided with a cross-brace 2 welded or otherwise secured to the side members of the base I. The base is preferably supported on suitable casters 3 whereby it is rendered readily portable in use.

Mounted on the cross-brace 2 and upstanding therefrom there is the tubular post 4 whose upper end is longitudinally slitted to render it contractile and whose lower end is formed with a bearing 5 through which the cross-brace 2 extends.

There is a clamp collar 6 around the post having free outwardly turned ends and there are the angle-braces l, 1 whose lower ends are pivoted to the respective side members of the base I and whose upper ends fit against the outwardly turned ends of the clamp collar 6. A clamp bolt 8 is fitted through suitable registering holes in the upper ends of the angle-braces l and the outwardly turned ends of the clamp collar 6, one end of this bolt being provided with a head and its other end being threaded to receive the wing nut 9.

By tightening up on the nut 9 the clamp collar 6 will securel clamp the post 4' and hold it in any desired upright position. However when the clamp nut 9 is loosened the post may be folded downwardly in the direction of the arrow a in Figure 1, the clamp collar 6 moving upwardly alon said post until the post is brought into parallel relationship with the base I and maintained in that position by again tightening up on the nut 9.

There is a supporting rod Ill whose lower end is telescoped into the upper end of the post 4. Surrounding said upper end there is a clamp collar ll whose free ends are outwardly turned and fitted between said free ends there is a cam l2 which rotates on a bolt l3 which is fitted through the outwardly turned ends of the clamp collar H and through said cam. The cam is provided with a handle M by means of which it may be operated into clamping, or released, position.

When the cam 12 is released the rod [0 may be adjusted up or down and said cam may then be actuated to active position, as shown in Figure 1, to cause the clamp collar l to contract the upper end of the post 4 into clamping relation with the rod I0.

The upper end of the rod I0 is provided with a fork l5 and mounted on the rod beneath said fork there is a hinge member l6 having upwardly turned lugs, as I1, between which one end of the supporting arm I8 is pivoted. This arm rests in the fork l5 and is supported in horizontal position thereby. However when it is desired to collapse the stand the arm l8 may be swung around in the direction indicated by the arrow b, in Figure 1, and will hang in parallel relationship with the post 4.

The free end of the arm l8 may be reduced in diameter and overturned at right angles and terminates in a ball bearing member l9. There is a plate like book holder 20 preferably formed of thin metal and preferably substantially rectangular in shape.

Fastened to the lower margin of it there is a forwardly turned flange 2| which is co-extensive in length, with the holder and which forms a support for a book, as 22, on the holder. This holder is of sufficient length so that the ordinary book, or magazine, may be maintained on it in open position.

Fastened to the rear side of the holder 20, approximately midway between its ends, and upstanding therefrom, there is a bar 22a whose upper end is slightly forwardly turned and fastened to said upper end, and extending forwardly approximately horizontally there is a bracket 23 to the free end of which a light globe hood 24, of any selected design, is pivoted.

For the purpose of adjusting said hood as required by the patient a link 25 has its forward end pivotally connected to said hood and this link is provided with an oblong slot 25. A clamp screw 21 having an enlarged head passes through the said slot 26 and is screwed into the bracket 23. This screw may be loosened and the hood 24 adjusted as desired and the screw 21 then tightened up to secure said adjustment.

A conventional light globe, as 28, may be screwed into a'socket provided for the purpose in the hood 24 and an electric current may be carried to the light globe through the electrical conductors 29 leading from a wall socket or other source of electricity. The electrical conductors 29 ma be supported on the arm l8 by suitable clips 30 provided for the purpose.

Fastened to the rear side of the holder plate 2|), approximately midway between the upper and lower margins thereof are the longitudinal bars 3|, 3| which extend from the outer ends of the plate inwardly to approximately the center thereof and the inner ends of these bars are rearwardly turned and formed into clamps 32, 32 which are concavo-convex and which embrace, and grip, the ball bearing l9. They are maintained in said gripping relation by means of a clamp bolt 53 which extends through said clamps and which has a head on one end and a clamp nut threaded onto the other end whereby said clamps may be maintained in clamping relation with the ball bearing l9, or released, to permit removal or adjustment of th book holder.

The outer ends of the respective bars 3| are spaced from the holder plate 20 by the spacers 34 but are secured thereto by means of the bolts 35 which pass through the plate 20, the spacers and the corresponding ends of said bars 3|. The inner ends of the bars 3| are spaced from the plate 20 by means of the spacers 36 and opposite these spacers, in front of the holder 20, there is a clamp plate 31. Clamp bolts 38, 38 pass through the clamp plate 31, through the holder 20, the spacers 36 and the inner ends of the bars 3| and hold these parts in assembled relation.

In front of the bars 3|, 3| the plate 20 is provided with longitudinal slots 39, 39. There are the anchors, as 4|], which slide against the forward side of the plate 20 and which have the reduced necks 4| which fit through the corresponding slots 39 and fitted against the rear side of the holder plate 20 are the slide plates 42 which are fastened to the corresponding anchors by set screws, as 43.

Extending outwardly from each anchor 40 there is an arm 44. Extending forwardly from the outer end of each arm 44 and rigidly secured thereto there is a guide rod 45, the outer end of said rods terminating in enlarged heads 45.

There are the clamp arms 41, the outer ends of said arms having bearings to receive the rods 45, said clamp arms being slidable on said rods 45 and surrounding the rods 45 and interposed between the clamp arms and the corresponding heads 45 are the coil springs 48.

The inner ends of the clamp arms 41 carry the clamps 49 which ar elongated and extend at right angles to the clamp arms 41. These clamps are designed to rest against and hold the outer margins of the leaves of the books, or magazine, and are held in yielding contact therewith by the pressure of the springs 48 so as to maintain the leaves in open position.

The outer ends of the clamp arms 41 are provided with the oppositely disposed finger grips 50 for the purpose of releasing the clamps 49 for convenience in turning or adjusting the leaves of the book. By placing the thumb on a head 46 and engaging the finger grips 50 with the fingers the clamp arm 41 and the corresponding clamp 49 may be pulled outwardly, or released, from the leaves so as to permit turning, or shifting, of the leaves as desired.

Fastened to each clamp arm 41 there is a spring clamp 5|. The free ends of these clamps 5| are turned inwardly and they are provided for convenience in turning the leaves of the book. As a leaf is turned its free margin may be temporarily inserted under the corresponding spring clamp 5| so as to hold the leaf in place until it becomes necessary to shift the leaves underneath the clamps 49 which may be done, as hereinabove explained.

The clamp means for holding the book or magazine open may be readily adjusted to accommodate books and magazines of different sizes.

In order to hold the book, or magazine, firmly in position on the holder plate 20 a rod 52 has been provided. The lower end of this rod is pivoted to the forwardly turned flange 2|, approximately midway between its ends and the upper end of the rod may be engaged with a hook 53 secured to th upstanding bar 22a above the book holder 20, as best shown in Figures 4 and 6, and so the rod 52 may be readily released for turning leaves or whenever desired.

As is obvious the book holder and the appendants thereof may be readily detached by loosening the bolt 33 and the other parts of the stand may be folded together in collapsed position in the manner hereinabove explained.

The drawings and description are illustrative merely whil the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a reading stand, a plate-like book holder having aligned, longitudinal slots, a book support at the lower margin of the holder, anchors movable along the forward side of the holder and which are provided with reduced necks which extend through said slots, slide plates movable along the rear side of said holder and attached to said necks, an arm extended outwardly from each anchor, a guide rod rigidly secured to, and extending forwardly from each arm, a clamp arm having a slidable bearing on each guide rod and extended inwardly therefrom, a leaf clamp on the inner end of each clamp arm and a yieldable element acting against each clamp arm and effective to hold the leaf clamps in yielding engagement with the leaves of an open book on the holder. 

